The Surprising Way to Develop Your Empathy as a Leader

I’ve always been enamored with reading.
 
I was the kid that would sit in her room for hours upon hours reading.
 
When I became a leader, my go-to was to read professional development articles and books or listen to podcasts.
 
Topics that enable me with the knowledge to support my clients or enhance my business.
 
And while I love this type of learning.
 
It doesn’t necessarily calm my mind.
 
Nor does it foster the same type of curiosity that other books do.
 
And then I read a study that showed that reading fiction fosters creativity.
 
In fact, people who read literary fiction helps people develop empathy, theory of mind, and critical thinking, according to a study conducted by Harvard Business Review.
 
Did you know that reading fiction can help:
 
-develop your imaginative power
-improve your Emotional Intelligence
-provide mental simulation
-boost creativity
-develop memory
-relieve stress
 
Nowadays, before bed, I switch it up with a suspense novel or a good ol’ love story.
 
What better way to simultaneously decompress while continuing to develop important leadership skills?